Jan 1-7 1891 and Jan 7, 1902 in Charleston, IL

January 1891

1.  Thursday  6 AM.  Ther  49  55  30
Cloudy and raining, wind S or SW. light showers during night - Too wet to do anything out doors.  John and Rile have done nothing for a week  I start home soon after dinner  John and Warren went after load of fodder up to fathers place  John helped dig some roots in river bottom west of John Handlys.  Roads pretty bad did not get home till nearly dark.  Tue had company today  Mrs. Perrill and Davis  the three Kates Mort Grove and perhaps others  Showery all day SW wind sunshine at times high wind changing to west at night growing colder snow squalls at nt[sic]. about half inch remaining on the  ground  go bed 11PM ~~

2.  Friday  730 M  Ther  24  29  22
Cloudy wind N W  Jo Crail straighten up Perkins room and Bill Meyers takes possession.  Jo worked a while for me PM cleaning out stable and piling boards.  J.R. Cunningham died last night, has been sick good while.  Phebe began yesterday t keep family expense book and Maggie keeps record of the weather.   Cloudy day with day with occasional snow flakes.  Wind NW  trade rather dull as has been all the week  Not many people in town.  Gobed 11.30 P.M.

3.  Saturday,  130 AM  Ther  22.  28.  22.
Cloudy SE wind.  Pay drafts from Straws and Kiefer    John Simons and Warren were up and ate dinner with us  Pay Simons months wages for Dec.  Jo Crail piled most of boards in afternoon.  Settle with Jo H. Handly for hauling hay  J.R. Cunningham who died night before last was buried today.  J? Charley Briggs has been here several days.  Uncle John was in town but didnt come down.  Maunie Lang and Davis children here at night.  Cloudy day with easterly wind and snow flying some AM. about clear at 11 PM.  go bed. 1 am

4.  Sunday.  9 AM Ther  15  28 .  22
Clear.  Sit round house all day.  Girls went to sunday School.  Tue to church.  Several children here  visiting girls in afternoon.  Tue went down to Hats after dinner.  Clear day with southerly wind  gobed 11 PM

5. Monday 7 30 AM.  Ther 19. 38. 27
Clear S Wwind.  Mrs. Rogers washes.  Girls start to school Phebe to Miss Whitleman.  Maggie to Western.  Pay up A.M. Agriculturist to July 1892 3.60  Settle with McCravy 11.00  Warren Decker brought load for John Smions  Warren thinks John is going to  to leave me in spring.  School began today.  Trade light.  Clear day SW wind Gobed 11 PM ~~

6.  Tuesday.  7,30 A.M.  Ther  15  33.  21
Clear, Tue not very well Settle with Winter C.E. 20.25  I.  16.00 my account against Isaac 7.10 gave check for for bal.  Harman brought us jar butter,  Get letter from WH White enclosing check 34.58 for 91 ties,  Bought copper TeaKettle [sic] for Tue at Van Meters.  Trade light.  Clear day with NE wind, all electric lights went out tonight about ten oclock   gobed 12.30

7. Wednesday, 7 AM.  Ther 14.  32  22
Clear, NE wind, heavy white frost.  Jo Crail helped put on lock on back to gate to Perkins building and work down at house PM. cleaned out stable and smoke house.  Jake Dice called for lumber
 but didn't get any.  Tue and Maggie went to prayer meeting at night and Maggie then went to stay the night with Mrs. Knock.  The news from Fatty is that he is n better and is perhaps a hopless [sic.] case  Clear day with N.E. wind.  The predictions in daily papers say snow  tonight  Trade only fair.  Roads said pretty  rough.  Learn that Mart Comer talks of sawing up Alex Richters timber.  Gobed 230

January 1902

7.  Tuesday,   6 AM.    Ther  30.  43.  32.  =  35

Mostly clear.   Tue and Phebe ironing.  Went down by the H. G. [Henry Gramesly]  but didn't stop.  Look for man to help me get Pete Drake who comes after dinner and works from 12.20 to 4.20 P.M.  Carries wood down in basement.  Cleans out Stable repairs fence in bottom and will help me tomorrow morning a while.  Mostly clear day SW wind somewhat warmer but ground still frozen.  Gobed 8.30 P.M.

March 26-31 , 1890 and 1901

March 1890

Spurgun loaded two loads hay today.

26.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther

clear, wind N.W.  Simons went to Comers for load of strips.  John and Rile making stakes. Caught flying squirrel with young.  I start home before noon going by Jo Monforts place get home about 7 P.M. very tired.  Buy spring tooth harrow of Montfort  @ 6,00  Roads dry everywhere  The fastest drying I ever saw.  Find Tue had joined Presbetyrian (sic.) Church in my absence 10.30 P.M.   ? Surveyor went down today but missed me.

27.  Thursday. 7 AM.  Ther  44.  
Cloudy wind SE. sprinkle several times in night and during day  Heavy rain with thunder toward night  Wind changes to W from SE and grows cooler  Intended to go to ranch today Buy steak at Bishops at night.  Tue went to church P.M. and night  Gobed about midnight

28.  Friday.  7 AM.  ther  28.  33.  33.  = 31 1/3
Cloudy and snowing  Half inch on ground wind west cloudy all day  Maunie Lang here  Girls at home The schools have vacation this week  Tue went to church PM and night go bed about Midnight

[top of Page]  Great Cyclone at Louisville  Thursday night 27th

29.  Saturday, 7 AM.  ther  26.  57.  37  =  40
Nearly clear SW wind.  Mostly cloudy day SW till 4 PM. changing to N and much clouder. [sic.]  Not many people in for Sat.  Send word by Warren for John to go for harrow as soon as possible.  Kelly found  Carlo at Andrew Walters but they refused to give him up.  Settle in full with Milt Drake collecting rent to  Apl 20.  Al King makes break at night.  Buy can oysters at Lchrers cash.  Give Cassand second old  coat to repair  Gobed  10c

30.  Sunday. 7.30 AM   Ther  26.  47.  36  =  36 1/3
Mostly cloudy, NW wind.  Tue went to Pres. church girls to Christian Sunday School.  Not feeling well today or should have gone to timber.  Chilly mostly cloudy day with N.E. wind P.M.  Gobed 10 P.M.

31.  Monday.  7 AM.  Ther  30.  40  32  =  34
Cloudy wind N.E. about half inch snow on ground which fell last night.  Phebe does not go to school.  Election day tomorrow and liquor men decide not to open at all.  Got shave at Mays at night  Gobed  11.30

March 1901

26.  Tuesday, 5.30 AM.  Ther  39.  45.  42  =  42

Cloudy S.W. wind.   Sprinkles rain in forenoon.  Self feeling badly all day.  Tue built a little fire in furnace.  Clara ironing most of day and feeling bad with neuralgia.  Jack Trobaugh will help me in morning floodgate and fence.  Cloudy all day with westerly wind.  Tue went somewhere with Kate Grove at night.  Phebe also out.  Gobed.  9.30 P.M.

27.  Wednesday  5.30 AM.  Ther  38.  42.  37  39

Cloudy westwind (sic).  Jack Trobaugh fixed bottom fence except floodgate and helped oil buggy.  I went to noon train looking for Maggie but she didn't come.  Tue wrote to her today. Was up tp see Hodgen P.M. but he was away till Sat.  Find that Wall owes me $40 on rent.  the 5000 paid by Garrison being paid for themselves.  The Cols time for selling his place his place expired today.  I was up at Marshalls office.  Cloudy chilly day.  Play cinch at night with Marie and Clara.  Phebe went to dance with Carl not getting home till toward Morning  Gobed 10 P.M.

28.  Thursday.  5.15 AM.  Ther.  30.  42.  40  =  37 1/3
Partly cloudy.  North wind.  Dick Wright works 8 to noon.  Has worked to date 18 1/2 hours.  Today fixed flood gate and trimmed trees mostly. quitting at noon.  Tue feeling badly  Maggie got home P.M. has been gone since 13th (?). She is not feeling very well. After doing chores I go out to Gaines'.  Stay all night  Jo began plowing across branch for gate.  Roads good.  Cloudy chilly day N. wind - I ate lunch on road.  Sleep with Jo w room lying awake  most of time  9 P.M.

[At top of Page]  shorthand

29.  Friday. 5 Am.  Ther  35.  44.  39.=  39 1/3
Mostly cloudy Easterly wind.  They are repairing branch sewer where injuried by high water.  Jo went to plowing 6 AM.  Roan horse tore buggy cushion last night.  I got home at 9. AM.  Ruth Reat rode with me.  Learn that Dr. Bush does not want the  lumber brought him last fall.  Buy narrow scoop at Van Meters Cr. 1.00  Miss Ford has party of friends at night.  Phebe went to party at night.  Gobed 10 P.M.  N

30.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther  39.  55.  38.  =  44
Cloudy Easterly wind.  There were light showers last night toward morning.  Maggie started again to work at Jenkins although not feeling very well.  Treas Gannaway tells me that no costs will be placed on taxes till April 10.  Garrison Bros indemnity bond does not satisfy me.  Get halter for cow Al Frommel 65c cr.  Call on Hodgen  AM Says will loan me money on farm as cheap as any body.  Mail check for 18.00 to Jo Gaines on wages: first I have paid him on this year  Partly clear day growing Tue went up town at night.  Phebe went home with Lude Record gobed  11 P.M.

31.  Sunday.  6.30 AM.  ther  33.  42.  34  =  36 1/3
Cloudy North wind.  Snow flying AM. [shorthand]  thought to hitch up and try roads PM but too chilly  Sun came out middle of day but mostly cloudy with northwind  Gobed 9 P.M.